Chapter 12 – Refining Essence Blood: The Strength of One Ox

“Buzz…”

As the cool life energy seeped into his body, Mu Lin immediately felt the pain in his body lessen considerably.

At the same time, he could also sense that the muscles torn by the Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood were gradually healing.

No, wait—his injuries had already been healing before the Spring Return Art.

The Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood was indeed expensive, but its high cost came with a reason: it had been refined by alchemists.

At this moment, while the violent energy of the essence blood was tearing Mu Lin’s body apart, the special energy within it was also healing him.

Thus, Mu Lin’s body grew stronger through cycles of tearing, healing, tearing again, and healing again.

Simultaneously, some of the genes and essence from the Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood integrated into Mu Lin’s body during this process of tearing and healing, granting him certain characteristics of the Blackwater Profound Serpent.

“Huff…”

“Thank you, Teacher.”

After the pain in his body eased, Mu Lin first bowed to Ma Daoren on the lectern and expressed his gratitude.

Then, he immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and began circulating the Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art.

As the cultivation method circulated, Mu Lin could clearly feel that the previously wild energy rampaging through his body was now, under the guidance of his will, flowing along a fixed meridian path in a cyclical motion.

Upon closer observation, one could see that the meridian path resembled an ouroboros, like a snake biting its own tail ∞.

“Hiss…”

However, because Mu Lin’s spirit was not strong enough to precisely control the violent energy within his body, only a tiny portion of the energy flowed along the meridian path. His body continued to tear and heal repeatedly.

Fortunately, the essence blood had been refined to possess healing properties, and the effects of the Spring Return Art were also continuously active on him.

Without these, Mu Lin’s body might have been torn to shreds.

“I underestimated this. I never expected the Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood to be so violent.”

Thankfully, he managed to endure it in the end.

Moreover, after circulating for a while, part of the energy within his body was imprinted with his mark and transformed into his Mana.

This time, due to the presence of the Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood, Mu Lin’s Mana was no longer ordinary—it had become Black Mist Magical Power.

“According to the description in the Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art, while Black Mist Magical Power enhances some water-based spells, it focuses more on strengthening the physical body. In the future, my body will possess the strength of nine oxen and two tigers, capable of shouldering mountains…”

While contemplating the characteristics of Black Mist Magical Power, Mu Lin, not daring to waste this opportunity, devoted his entire mind and body to circulating the Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art.

—The power of the essence blood was fading rapidly, so Mu Lin had to seize every second to convert that energy into his own Mana.

This circulation lasted for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. In the end, Mu Lin bitterly realized that seventy percent of the energy from the Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood had been wasted. Only one-tenth had been transformed into his unique Black Mist Magical Power.

Another two-tenths had integrated into Mu Lin’s body, making his physique stronger.

“I shouldn’t have consumed it so early. Wasting seventy percent is too great a loss.”

After feeling distressed for a while, Mu Lin soon discovered something that made him even more upset.

Just now, the physical agony coupled with the continuously dissipating energy had consumed Mu Lin’s entire focus on refining the essence blood within his body.

As a result, his sensing of the external spiritual energy was somewhat neglected.

“So, even after consuming a drop of essence blood, I still haven’t crossed into the Sensing realm?”

At this thought, Mu Lin felt utterly exasperated.

In the end, that day, Mu Lin returned to his courtyard in low spirits.

It took a full hour of despondency before his mood finally settled.

“Hah… Looking on the bright side, at least I’m now a martial arts expert.”

Although Mu Lin had only absorbed about thirty percent of the Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood’s power, due to the high quality of the serpent’s essence blood, he still gained countless benefits.

First was his physical strength. Through constant destruction and healing, along with the integration of the Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood, Mu Lin’s body, while not yet reaching the minor achievement of possessing the strength of nine oxen and two tigers, now had the power of one ox.

And it wasn’t just strength; his physical resilience and the vigor of his Qi and Blood had also been greatly enhanced.

Beyond strength, there was the Black Mist Magical Power. The mana within his body was now sufficient for Mu Lin to cast some minor spells.

“Unfortunately, the concentration of essence blood in my body isn’t high enough; I haven’t awakened the Blackwater Profound Serpent’s innate spells.”

It should be noted that as a cultivation method created by humans, the Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art, aside from initially requiring the consumption of Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood, does not necessitate further consumption later on.

With a trace of Black Mist Magical Power as a catalyst, and given the versatility of spiritual energy, Mu Lin could, through the circulation of the cultivation method, convert ordinary spiritual energy into Black Mist Magical Power.

Then, he could use the Black Mist Magical Power to continuously increase the concentration of essence blood within his body. Ultimately, he would gain the ability to transform into a Blackwater Profound Serpent, and then from serpent to flood dragon. Once that was achieved, Mu Lin could cultivate this art to great completion, possessing the power to summon wind and rain.

Of course, this doesn’t mean Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood is useless. Due to their shared nature, for cultivators practicing the Blackwater Profound Serpent Mortal Shedding Art, Blackwater Profound Serpent Essence Blood would be the best elixir.

While pondering these minor matters, Mu Lin attempted to breathe in spiritual energy under the moon. Finding it utterly ineffective, he could only reluctantly give up and turn to paper folding first.

Since it could earn Spirit Crystals, Mu Lin no longer resisted paper folding; instead, he found enjoyment in it.

Naturally, he also did not forget to cultivate his Mindscape – Sky Burial City.

After his visualization session, his cultivation progress in Mindscape – Sky Burial City had reached the 2nd Realm, Proficient (631/800).

“If nothing unexpected happens, by tomorrow afternoon, I should break through to the 2nd Realm and reach the 3rd Realm, Expert. I wonder if, upon reaching the third realm of Mindscape – Sky Burial City, I can obtain another characteristic.”

With anticipation, Mu Lin closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Soon, a new day arrived, and with it, a new round of cultivation began.

On this day, what stirred anxiety in Mu Lin’s heart was that upon entering the classroom, he discovered over twenty of his classmates had already sensed spiritual energy.

“Is this spiritual energy?”

“It feels like the world has become more real…”

“Huh? I’m not moving, yet these adorable little things are actively merging into my body!”

“This is what Second-Class Spirit Root talent is like. Of course, the strongest are still First-Class Spirit Roots and Celestial Spirit Roots. They are the darlings of heaven and earth; with just their breath, they can draw spiritual energy into their bodies.”

On this third day of cultivation, most of the cultivators with Second-Class Spirit Roots had already successfully sensed Spiritual Energy.

Some disciples from well-off cultivation families, relying on precious resources, had also succeeded in sensing it.

Naturally, those who succeeded were overjoyed, chatting happily ahead. However, this made Mu Lin, as well as everyone else in the classroom, grow anxious.

Due to his anxiety, and with his physical constitution having improved somewhat, Mu Lin used Fish Oil Paste a full three times this morning!

Unfortunately, while the Fish Oil Paste was somewhat effective, it was certainly not the best. Moreover, the Spirit Root represented one’s affinity with Spiritual Energy, and the Third-Class Spirit Root was truly mediocre. Despite his efforts, Mu Lin still failed to sense it.

What touched his heart was that the little fatty, Zong Xiu, truly regarded him as a friend.

Noticing his disappointment, Zong Xiu accompanied him for a meal and offered some comfort.

Afterward, he even prepared to lend a helping hand.

“Brother Mu, don’t worry. Your Third-Class Spirit Root is just ordinary, not poor. Within the Dao Palace, you should be able to sense it successfully in about seven to fifteen days.”

“Besides, there are shortcuts available.”

As he spoke, he handed over several fresh leaves.

“What are these?”

(End of Chapter)